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Яusso-Soviэt Forum: WWII Soviet Armor
For discussions related to WW2 era Soviet armor.
MBV-2 Build Log
JamesL27
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Posted: Wednesday, May 15, 2019 - 12:03 PM UTC
Couldn't help myself. I wanted this monster of a kit since I first saw it announced, and after sitting on my shelf for a while now, I finally got it started.

Big box


And here's what's inside


A shot of the upper hull


Getting started, the instructions have you tackle the bogie assemblies first. Step 1 has you do the three axle bogie.

Which builds up nicely

Step 2 has you build the drive wheels



So far so good. Nice big parts. Fit is good. It looks to be a simple build for such a massive kit. The only downside I see so far is that, while there is a quad maxim mount included, there is no interior detail, so it doesn't make sense to show it off. I'm going to build mine buttoned up, but there are interior photos from a surviving example on the web for those that want to scratchbuild.

This kit will be challenging to paint, simple because it's so big and just plain green. So I'll be experimenting with color modulation on this one, and it'll probably need a few filters too. I'm also going to ditch the supplied track and use some of MiniArt's track to display this on. And a big maybe here, but I might throw MiniArt's 18t flatcar into the mix, but we'll see.
panzerbob01
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Posted: Wednesday, May 15, 2019 - 12:11 PM UTC
It's a bloody battleship on rails, is what it is!

Before you head for just plain ol' Russian green... I would look around at pics of Sov armored train stuff - I am fairly sure that a lot of it underwent various camo schemes (not that camo likely much works when its sitting on the tracks...) over the course of the war, and it could be that these mutha's had other schemes than plain green, too.

Just a thought!

Bob
GregCopplin
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Posted: Wednesday, May 15, 2019 - 12:12 PM UTC
I知 jealous I知 going to be watching this one vigilantly, I知 very interested in armored trains and railcars.

Why not take mini arts railcar and put the maxim quad on it for air defense ?
JamesL27
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Posted: Wednesday, May 15, 2019 - 01:40 PM UTC

Quoted Text

It's a bloody battleship on rails, is what it is!

Before you head for just plain ol' Russian green... I would look around at pics of Sov armored train stuff - I am fairly sure that a lot of it underwent various camo schemes (not that camo likely much works when its sitting on the tracks...) over the course of the war, and it could be that these mutha's had other schemes than plain green, too.

Just a thought!

Bob


Hobby Boss also has a 'late' version I think. And the markings for that show a winter white wash or the railroad tie camo (which isn't fully correct since they're missing the rails in the camo scheme). I'm just not sure if this early version was ever painted up like that. Think the only real difference between the two are the guns mounted in the turrets, so I could probably get away with it without most people noticing. It's certainly food for thought.



Quoted Text

I知 jealous I知 going to be watching this one vigilantly, I知 very interested in armored trains and railcars.

Why not take mini arts railcar and put the maxim quad on it for air defense ?


That's a possibility. I do have blueprints for a quad maxim rail car. As far as I know I think they went on 20t flatcars. They have these special armored housings that were mounted to the car, pretty cool looking. I'll have to see how detailed this kits maxim is too.
GregCopplin
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Posted: Wednesday, May 15, 2019 - 02:23 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

It's a bloody battleship on rails, is what it is!

Before you head for just plain ol' Russian green... I would look around at pics of Sov armored train stuff - I am fairly sure that a lot of it underwent various camo schemes (not that camo likely much works when its sitting on the tracks...) over the course of the war, and it could be that these mutha's had other schemes than plain green, too.

Just a thought!

Bob


Hobby Boss also has a 'late' version I think. And the markings for that show a winter white wash or the railroad tie camo (which isn't fully correct since they're missing the rails in the camo scheme). I'm just not sure if this early version was ever painted up like that. Think the only real difference between the two are the guns mounted in the turrets, so I could probably get away with it without most people noticing. It's certainly food for thought.



Quoted Text

I知 jealous I知 going to be watching this one vigilantly, I知 very interested in armored trains and railcars.

Why not take mini arts railcar and put the maxim quad on it for air defense ?


That's a possibility. I do have blueprints for a quad maxim rail car. As far as I know I think they went on 20t flatcars. They have these special armored housings that were mounted to the car, pretty cool looking. I'll have to see how detailed this kits maxim is too.



I think i know the railcar you池e talking about, i want to say ubm (i think that痴 there name) made one in 1/72
JamesL27
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Posted: Friday, May 17, 2019 - 04:42 AM UTC
I did some further research, and there are 3 versions of the MBV-2 which HobbyBoss is making. The only difference between them are the turrets. And I was wrong about HobbyBoss providing the wrong rail track camo pattern for their other version, they get it right.

Anyway, the kit I'm building now (85514) only has the solid green in the marking guide, but this image shows that it was painted with the rail track camo pattern

So it's a possibility. Would be very tedious to do though
panzerbob01
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Posted: Friday, May 17, 2019 - 05:38 AM UTC
But, boy it look just SPECTACULAR!

We're all modelers here, right? And occasional tedious and slow tasks are, I think, part and parcel of the hobby - indy-link tracks, zillions of road wheels on tracked stuff, cleaning mold-seams off every little part... and complex, detailed camo schemes!

Were I in your town, I would gladly offer my help in painting that scheme!

Hope you decide to do it!

You do got to wonder, though, whether any German fly-boy was ever even remotely confused by seeing a huge, striped bump cruising down the tracks!

Bob
JamesL27
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Posted: Thursday, May 23, 2019 - 11:02 AM UTC

Quoted Text

But, boy it look just SPECTACULAR!

We're all modelers here, right? And occasional tedious and slow tasks are, I think, part and parcel of the hobby - indy-link tracks, zillions of road wheels on tracked stuff, cleaning mold-seams off every little part... and complex, detailed camo schemes!

Were I in your town, I would gladly offer my help in painting that scheme!

Hope you decide to do it!

You do got to wonder, though, whether any German fly-boy was ever even remotely confused by seeing a huge, striped bump cruising down the tracks!

Bob


Still leaning towards the solid green, but it's not like I only have to build one of these, maybe one day I'll have the entire MBV-2 family.

Both MBV-2s survived the war, so maybe that camo did help. I'd imagine at height that it'd be very hard to judge speed with the rail tie camo, throwing off some dive-bombers aim.

Work continues. Not a terrible lot of progress, been a busy week for me. I fitted the lower hull to the upper hull. Fits together easily enough, but requires a little filling on either end




I'm ditching the kit supplied railbed. Those things always look like garbage. Instead I'll be using MiniArt's Russian rail track. Built up a run to make sure the bogies fit on the rails.



They fit on just fine. Currently doing some painting now. Painting and weathering the bogies separately, gonna try out some new techniques on them.

Next week I should have a lot more free time, so expect the next update then.
JamesL27
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Posted: Thursday, May 30, 2019 - 06:20 AM UTC
Main hull is complete and ready for painting.






One thing that bothers me is the HobbyBoss/Trumpeter penchant for using PE for curved parts.

Those spring covers are too short to roll into shape, and I don't have a form to press them into so I had to make due with trying to wrap them around a metal rod. 'Meh' results as you can see. Other than that, the kit has been pretty easy.

Turrets still need to be built, but I think I'm going to get a base coat on the hull first.
JamesL27
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Posted: Tuesday, June 04, 2019 - 06:11 AM UTC
Majority of the painting is complete. I used Vallejo's Russian color modulation set (I was worried those little bottles wouldn't be enough, but they were). I'm happy with the results








Just need to do some detail painting, then some highlighting. I'm going to keep this lightly weathered, so some filters, a pin wash, and maybe some dusty pigments towards the bottom, and this will be all set.

Pretty easy build besides some of PE issues I mentioned before. And since it went together quickly, I'm not burned out on it yet, so I am leaning towards making a little dio with the quad Maxim mounted on MiniArt's 16t flatcar. Reading up on the MBV I learned they were often deployed with AA cars, but with the rough Google translation it seems they were typically with the heavy AA cars (37mm to 76mm guns). But still, historically it's at least probable.
JamesL27
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Posted: Wednesday, June 05, 2019 - 07:36 AM UTC
Going ahead with building an attached AA car. Ordered MiniArt's 18t flat car today, and went ahead and build the quad Maxim supplied with the MBV-2.







This really felt like an afterthought for the kit. It's missing a lot of detail, most noticeably the barrel caps, front sight & front sight mechanism, tubing from the rear of the barrels to the feed line, and tubing from the feed line to the water tank. I scratched what I could, which was mainly the water lines. The rest of the stuff is either beyond my means or I don't have the means on hand.

Next up I'll paint up the quad Maxim, build another section of rail track, and sit tight until the flat car comes in. I want to wait until I have the kit in hand for some measurements before I get into scratch building the Maxim housing.
JamesL27
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Posted: Friday, June 07, 2019 - 08:24 AM UTC
More progress. Finished painting up the Maxim mount


Also made my own display base. Just some 1"x6" pine cut to length, stained, and then two coats of gloss varnish were applied. This will be my first diorama base for a finished model. I've made some test bases on scrap wood and I think I got the hang of it, so I think I can handle this one.


The flat car should arrive in the mail tomorrow, so I'll be able to get started on that soon. This is what I plan to do with it,




The plans show it on a 20t flat car, while I'll be using the 18t. Weight wise it should not have been an issue with either car, but given the limited info available I have no idea if it was ever mounted on an 18t car. A lot of the Soviet armored trains had an improvised nature to them, even standardized railcars would vary from different factories. So, possible, but I'm stretching the limits of historical accuracy here.
JamesL27
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Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2019 - 12:41 PM UTC
Finished building the flatcar.




It's a well detailed kit, but I feel MiniArt upped the part count just for the sake of it. Mainly the steel beams. They're made with two parts, one that has 3 sides, and the other is a flat face with beveled edges to mate up to the 3 sided piece. There are no undercuts that I noticed, so I don't know why this wasn't a single piece with a seam down the middle. Speaking of, mold seams were pretty large in some spots, but that's easy to fix. Other than that, it's a fine kit and builds up nicely.

Next I'll build up the two sections of track included with the railcar kit, and mate it to the existing track section. Scratchbuilding materials are also on the way and should arrive in a few days. The design is done for all the parts needed, so once it comes in I can dive into building the enclosure.
GregCopplin
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Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2019 - 09:31 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Finished building the flatcar.




It's a well detailed kit, but I feel MiniArt upped the part count just for the sake of it. Mainly the steel beams. They're made with two parts, one that has 3 sides, and the other is a flat face with beveled edges to mate up to the 3 sided piece. There are no undercuts that I noticed, so I don't know why this wasn't a single piece with a seam down the middle. Speaking of, mold seams were pretty large in some spots, but that's easy to fix. Other than that, it's a fine kit and builds up nicely.

Next I'll build up the two sections of track included with the railcar kit, and mate it to the existing track section. Scratchbuilding materials are also on the way and should arrive in a few days. The design is done for all the parts needed, so once it comes in I can dive into building the enclosure.



This looks like a great kit, do you happen to know if the Germans used these type of flat cars in there railway inventory ?
JamesL27
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Posted: Thursday, June 13, 2019 - 08:43 AM UTC

Quoted Text

This looks like a great kit, do you happen to know if the Germans used these type of flat cars in there railway inventory ?


Can't say for certain if they did. But I know they did put captured Soviet armored trains to use as well as the 60t flat car, so it would not be a stretch for the Germans to use this. The kit supplies 6 marking schemes but all are listed as USSR or 'Unknown Operator'.
GregCopplin
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Posted: Thursday, June 13, 2019 - 11:31 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

This looks like a great kit, do you happen to know if the Germans used these type of flat cars in there railway inventory ?


Can't say for certain if they did. But I know they did put captured Soviet armored trains to use as well as the 60t flat car, so it would not be a stretch for the Germans to use this. The kit supplies 6 marking schemes but all are listed as USSR or 'Unknown Operator'.



I think i May have to grab one of these for a build I知 doing. It looks like a great lot and it looks as if it goes together with no issues.
JamesL27
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Posted: Saturday, June 15, 2019 - 12:25 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I think i May have to grab one of these for a build I知 doing. It looks like a great lot and it looks as if it goes together with no issues.


Railway diorama? Also, the kit has options two fit both Russian and European gauge track, which furthers the case for captured ones being pressed into service.
GregCopplin
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Posted: Saturday, June 15, 2019 - 03:16 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

I think i May have to grab one of these for a build I知 doing. It looks like a great lot and it looks as if it goes together with no issues.


Railway diorama? Also, the kit has options two fit both Russian and European gauge track, which furthers the case for captured ones being pressed into service.



Yes I知 doing a railway diorama, so far i have a PL-37 that is going to be captured and attached to it will be an abstoswagen that has a Somua S-35 on it that is beginning to dismount. I thinking maybe another track with one of the Soviet wagons on it would fit in just fine.
JamesL27
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Posted: Saturday, June 15, 2019 - 03:43 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Yes I知 doing a railway diorama, so far i have a PL-37 that is going to be captured and attached to it will be an abstoswagen that has a Somua S-35 on it that is beginning to dismount. I thinking maybe another track with one of the Soviet wagons on it would fit in just fine.


Sounds neat. You should make a build log for it. Have yet to a single build log of the PL-37 even though it's been out for years now.
GregCopplin
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Posted: Saturday, June 15, 2019 - 03:46 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Yes I知 doing a railway diorama, so far i have a PL-37 that is going to be captured and attached to it will be an abstoswagen that has a Somua S-35 on it that is beginning to dismount. I thinking maybe another track with one of the Soviet wagons on it would fit in just fine.


Sounds neat. You should make a build log for it. Have yet to a single build log of the PL-37 even though it's been out for years now.



Unfortunately i built it last year and actually just repainted it with my new airbrush. If i can ever figure out how to post pictures on here I値l post it. It was a simple build fortunately and it seems like a lot of the heavy armored trains are. It壇 be nice onget a full interior kit one of these days
Jacques
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Posted: Saturday, June 15, 2019 - 03:47 AM UTC
German and Russian railways were at different gauges, so they tended to attempt to capture as much railstock as possible so they could move equipment in enemy territory much more easily than regauging/relaying track or regauging their own rollingstock. There were specific waypoints where trains from Russia/Soviet Union were unloaded and reloaded onto captured German trains to continue further west. So yes, depending on year and territory, either countries equipment was used by the other.

That Miniart flatcar looks nice. I plan to get one myself, someday. Sorry to hear the parts count is high. I believe it has to do with their specific manufacturing process and making such large, long styrene pieces without short shots or depressions. Annoying, but older tech means more parts.
JamesL27
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Posted: Sunday, June 16, 2019 - 08:40 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Unfortunately i built it last year and actually just repainted it with my new airbrush. If i can ever figure out how to post pictures on here I値l post it. It was a simple build fortunately and it seems like a lot of the heavy armored trains are. It壇 be nice onget a full interior kit one of these days


Good to hear. I'd like to build one or two of those at some point. Just need an armored locomotive for them and I'd be set.


Quoted Text

That Miniart flatcar looks nice. I plan to get one myself, someday. Sorry to hear the parts count is high. I believe it has to do with their specific manufacturing process and making such large, long styrene pieces without short shots or depressions. Annoying, but older tech means more parts.


I figured there was a logical reason to it. I have dealt with short shots before, and I'd much rather have more parts than that.

Not much progress this weekend. Finished up the track and masked off the base to get ready for ground-work. I'll have to buy some plaster or cellu-clay, but while I wait for that I can get started on the maxim enclosure.

I was originally thinking of having the car in front, but I realized it wouldn't make much sense since it would obstruct the first turret, so it'll hang out in the back.
JamesL27
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Posted: Wednesday, June 26, 2019 - 11:28 AM UTC
Just a small update. Started on the maxim enclosure, and I'll go over my approach to scratchbuilding as I rarely see anyone post how they do it, just the results. So maybe this can help someone.

I use the acetone transfer method as much as I can. I found the results are much more accurate, square and consistent than with standard marking and cutting.

First I make a CAD drawing to scale. Here I'm using SketchUp for ease and simplicity.


Then I take pieces of the model and print them out 1/1 using a laser printer. Inkjet printers will not work with this method.


Cut out the parts into manageable chunks and tape them face down on the plastic stock.


And then just brush on some acetone.


No need to burnish, just wait a minute for it to dry and peel away.


Decent results. As you can see, sometimes there are areas that don't transfer over well, but there's almost always enough to cut your line by. Feels almost like cheating. Makes getting curves just right, and bolts evenly spaced a million times easier.

Here's where I'm at now

Not a terrible lot of progress lately. I feel the mojo slipping. Got distracted by rail guns, a book on Area 51 and house work, you know, the usual stuff. I may jump around a bit, paint up the flatcar, finish some details on the MBV-2, find some ground work material for the base... lots to do.
JamesL27
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Posted: Monday, August 12, 2019 - 11:31 AM UTC
I'm back. Getting into the swing of things again

Spent a lot of time on the railbed. I taped off the base and spread some spackle on top and then pressed the track into place. Once dry I did multiple layers of glue then ballast to build it up, with a final coat of glue to set it all in place. Primed it all in black, then airbrushed a basecoat of gray, then painted all the ties and rails by hand. Followed this with a dark wash. Gave that a day to dry and started going heavy with some pigments.

That's a little section I've got done. The gray basecoat is kind of bluish, so I'm really going at it with the pigments to blend everything together and get a dusty look.

Also painted up the flat car. Used the hairspray chipping technique on it

Might be a little overdone, but weathering will mute it down a little bit. I used Vallejo paints, which as some of you know, aren't great for this technique since they dry kinda rubbery and come off in large chunks. But I think it came out alright. Got some touch up painting to do, then a coat of clear gloss to seal it in and on to decals and weathering.
GregCopplin
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Posted: Monday, August 12, 2019 - 06:10 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I'm back. Getting into the swing of things again

Spent a lot of time on the railbed. I taped off the base and spread some spackle on top and then pressed the track into place. Once dry I did multiple layers of glue then ballast to build it up, with a final coat of glue to set it all in place. Primed it all in black, then airbrushed a basecoat of gray, then painted all the ties and rails by hand. Followed this with a dark wash. Gave that a day to dry and started going heavy with some pigments.

That's a little section I've got done. The gray basecoat is kind of bluish, so I'm really going at it with the pigments to blend everything together and get a dusty look.

Also painted up the flat car. Used the hairspray chipping technique on it

Might be a little overdone, but weathering will mute it down a little bit. I used Vallejo paints, which as some of you know, aren't great for this technique since they dry kinda rubbery and come off in large chunks. But I think it came out alright. Got some touch up painting to do, then a coat of clear gloss to seal it in and on to decals and weathering.



This looks like it痴 really coming along, keep up the good work!
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